Chapter 15

     It has been quite a week.  I went on a 26 mile hike with my youngest son, Lukas.  Great weather and beautiful scenery, here in the Smokys, but I fell crossing a small branch and dislocated my finger.  I pulled it back into place and it seems fine, but is still swelled.  Then I got back to work Tuesday and my back went out.  I've been icing it, in hopes of getting back to work Monday.  Nothing new on the guitar building front.  I am just too busy.
     Here is Chapter 15 for all those who are still reading.   My son-in-law, Nate Roberto, has done this most wonderful illustration.  I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Fifteen

Lama faced Launt

     Polly and the girls, along with Little Tee, were found by Lao Hu’s scouts and escorted back to the camp.  There they met Mr. Popper for an evening feast that celebrated the coming together of this band of dissenters, and  marked the beginning of a most dangerous journey to the land of the Adnaca. 

     The group walked out into the night.  There were tables set by candle light, with white linen and flowers.  The flowers were Indian paint brushes, which are deep red with small black eyes that follow you while you eat; and honeysuckle, that fills the air with sweet aromas.  The night sky was ablaze with stars and the moon was full, which cast a pleasant light on the event.  The tables themselves had been placed around the most wonderful bon fire.  The guests were seated at the table and the tigers began to bring in the food.  There were roasted ground hogs and sweet potatoes, opossums with carrots and onions, bear stew, venison sausage, wild turkey, and boars head.  There were ramps and potatoes, with speckled trout, branch lettuce, with fatback grease, tomato sandwiches, pimento cheese, fried okra, fried pickles, fried squash, fried apples, and of course, plenty of biscuits with butter.  Then there were the desserts: pecan pie, apple pie, chess pie, key lime pie, butter milk pie, blackberry pie, and molasses pie.  Coconut cake, red velvet cake, pineapple upside down cake, blackberry wine cake, and pound cake.  Never had the girls seen so much food.  They all ate until they could eat no more.  For entertainment, there were tigers who danced and juggled, who blew fire from their mouths, and even rode bicycles.  It was quite a show.

     All this time Little Tee had been looking around nervously, for he had hunted these tigers, who were now treating him with such hospitality.  No one seemed to hold any animosity toward him.  As a matter of fact, they seemed to enjoy his company.  

     Lao Hu began to tap on his glass, signaling everyone to quite down.  “This has been a most enjoyable evening.  It has been our pleasure, as tigers, to have you all here as our guests and friends.  Tonight we have taken the first step to change our world as we know it.  Instead of just hearing stories about the Music Water, perhaps our children and grandchildren will swim in it.  They will know the Water like we know the earth.”  With this everyone stood to their feet and cheered.  

     As everyone began to sit back down, only Lao Hu and Little Tee remained standing.  Lao Hu looked at Little Tee as he began to speak.  “My name is Little Tee.  I’m from the tribe of the Dilleyards.  We have hunted you tigers fer years and years.  I never knowed yuns was such kind critters.  So I pledge tonight, before all yuns, that we Dilleyards will no longer hunt yunses, but we will fight along side youse to get this here Water Music to all the people of Midland and beyond.”  The crowd once again stood to their feet and cheered with such exuberance, that the sound was deafening.

     “Well said, my good friend.”  Lao Hu said addressing Little Tee.  “Tonight we make a pact with the Dillieyards to make them our allies.  We will come to your aid and fight along side you, whenever you call upon us.  And we will all work together to complete our mission, for the sakes of all future generations.”  Once again the crowd broke into cheers.  “Tomorrow we will begin our journey.  I will be gone for an undisclosed length of time.  I’m afraid all of us who are part of this team must get some rest, so we will leave you as we head to our rooms, but as is our custom, on important events such as this one, we must leave with a song.  I have added a few small drops of the Music Water to the wine tonight, so we can all sing.  As our newest ally and friend, I think it only fitting that Little Tee begin the song of his

choice.  Choose wisely an anthem to start our journey by and solidify our pact.”  he said as he looked at Little Tee.

     Tee began to look pale, and then red, as everyone looked at him and listened.  The crowd grew silent as Tee began rather timidly,  “Rising up, back on the street.”  he began, “Did my time took my chances.  Went the distance now I’m back on my feet.  Just a man and his will to survive.”  Everyone was staring at him as he and Mr. Popper started the second verse,  “So many times, it happens too fast.  You trade your passion for glory.”  Now Polly and some of the tigers began to join in,  “Don’t loose your grip on the dreams of the past.  You must fight just to keep them alive.”  And with that last verse the whole crowd, tigers, shaman, tribal chiefs and priests began to sing with all their might.  “It’s the eye of the tiger.  It’s the thrill of the fight.  Rising up to the challenge of our rival.  And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night.  And he’s watching us all with the eye of the tiger!”

     As they all continued to sing the journeyers left the table for their rooms.  In the fire light with all the singing and merry making, no one saw a dark figure get up from the table and make his way in the dark to his horse.  The singing muffled the horses hoof beats as he galloped into the night.

     The next day the company rose early, saddled their horses, and followed Lao Hu out of town.

     “Where are we headed, my friend?”  Mr. Popper asked as he rode along beside Lao Hu.

     “We must head to the Toe Lakes to find the one who can show us the way to Percy Toeringer’s.  There we will purchase one deforestation frog, which I hope and pray will do it’s job when we finally reach the tree of life.”

     “Who is this person we seek to show us the way?”

     “He is a powerful shaman from the sprat-jowl tribe.  It is said that he can make healing water that can cure diseases and restore health.”

     “How will we know it is him when we find him?” 

     “He lives in the land of vineyards and rolling hills.  He walks with a cane and wears strange hats, and has the features of a lama.”

     “Could this be lama faced Launt?”  Mr. Popper said with a sudden shock.

     “Yes.  Have you heard of him?”

     “I have not only heard of him, but we have been companions and friends through many lives.  We were once high school friends, many lives ago.  In one life I was a frog and he was a turtle.  But in the last life I was a guinea pig and he was a lama.  I would ride on his back in the Peruvian mountains.  We were such good friends and had so much fun together, until one of the natives caught me and had me for supper.  I haven’t seen him since, but I’ll know him by his lama looks.  And he’ll know me by my guinea looks; you see, when you are born again into this world, you take with you a resemblance of who you used to be.  It will be good to see him again.” said Mr. Popper as they rode on into the day.

     The journeyers rode for the better part of three weeks.  The land had gradually begun to change.  They were now out of the tall mountains and into foothills.  The trees began to change colors, as early fall was setting in, and they started to see great vineyards of dark purple grapes and beautiful pale green ones.  

     They made their way to the top of one of the largest foothills, and there below them, in the distance was Honeoye lake, as the natives called it.  It was beautiful to behold.  The lake was maybe five miles long and a mile across.  The reflection of the fall colors made it look as if it were on fire.  The trees had begun to turn dark reds, and vibrant yellows, and deep oranges.  Then there were the blue and purple trees mixed in that gave it a sort of story book look.  Like a painting.  They were all overwhelmed by such beauty.

     The girls had all gotten down from their horses to look.  Far off in the distance there appeared to be a large bird floating on the breeze.  No one noticed it except Una who was fascinated by the way it seemed to rest on the air currents.  She walked closer to the edge of the foothill to get a better look.  It now seemed as though the bird had seen her and was moving in her direction.  Still no one else had noticed it.  As the bird got closer Una could see just how big it really was.  It appeared to have a wing span of maybe twelve feet.  Polly was getting a drink from her water bottle and enjoying the cool breeze in her hair when the sky suddenly went dark.  She looked up, expecting a rain cloud, but instead saw the underside of a huge bird.  It had its talons splayed and before she could scream, it swept down and lifted Una up in it’s claws.  

     “Una!”  screamed Polly, as the bird lifted her into the air.  “Someone do something!”  she cried.

     But all they could do was look on and cry, as the giant bird carried her off in the direction of the Toe lake.

     “I’m sorry Polly, but all we can do is ride after her.” said Mr. Popper, who was physically shaken.

     “Where will we look?”  asked Lao Hu, “We need to know what kind of bird this is and where it nests.”

     From behind them a voice said, “That’s a Koi hawk.  They usually just go after the Koi fish, but they’ve been known to carry off a child every now and then.  We should look for her at Sandy Bottom.  It’s a stretch of beach on the lake.  The Koi hawks have nests there.  There’s no time to lose.  Follow me.”  the man said as he turned his horse and began to gallop after her.

     Mr. Popper and the rest turned to follow, and as they did so, Mr. Popper could see the cane in his saddle bag, the wild hat made of peacock and ostrich feathers, and as the man turned and smiled, he saw the face that still resembled a lama.

     

Chapter 14

    Just got back from doing a hardwood job in Oxford Ms.  It was eight plus hours down.  The town is very cool.  A lot of old historic buildings, built in the 1800's, that boarder an old court house on all sides.  Some of the best soul food restaurants anywhere.
     So, nothing new on the guitar front, but chapter fourteen, with a special guest illustrator, my son-in-law, Nathan Roberto.  I think you'll agree that he and Martha should be illustrators for children's books.  I hope you enjoy.

Chapter Fourteen

Old Friends

     It was dark.  Mr.Popper couldn’t see a thing.  Where was he?  Where had the escape door taken him, and most importantly, where was the tiger who had jumped through the door with him?  With his hands he could feel walls on both sides of him.  The opening, or more like a tunnel, was very narrow; just wide enough for one person.  He could feel overhead.  The ceiling was just a few inches above his own head.  In front of him, maybe 100 yards or more, he could see a dim light.  “That must be the way out,” he thought to himself.  

     Just then he heard a rustling behind him, then the sound of panting.  He could hear the click of claws on the floor and the smell of sweat and cat fur.  It sounded as if it were fifty yards or so behind him, but it was too dark to see anything.  Mr. Popper stayed very quiet and counted the steps of the large beast behind him.  The scratching of toenails let him know that the feline was heading his way, but going slowly.  He guessed that he hadn’t been detected yet.  There was only one chance.  Mr. Popper would have to beat the tiger to the exit.  

     He braced himself and took a deep breath, realizing that as soon as he ran, the tiger would hear him.  With everything that he had, Mr. Popper took off as fast as his feet would carry him.  As soon as he began to run, he could hear the tiger racing behind him.  He figured he had maybe a sixty yard head start, by the time the tiger heard him, but he knew that a tiger could easily out run a man.  He hoped and prayed it was enough.  The light in the distance grew brighter as he approached it.  He could feel his heart beat in his throat as he breathed hard.  His lungs began to burn and sweat ran into his eyes.  He could now hear the tiger coming up behind him in the dark.  It sounded as if it was maybe twenty yards behind and the light appeared to be, not much less than that in front of him.  Now he could see the opening.  A round hole in the blackness.  Just big enough to get through.  He ran with all his might.  He could hear the tiger approaching behind him.  At the last possible moment , he jumped for the opening, just as he heard the sound of claws on the floor stop, as the tiger jumped for him at the same time.  Mr. Popper hit the floor on the other side of the tunnel, and all in one motion, turned  picked up the escape door, folded it and stuffed it in his pocket, before the tiger could make it through.

     With his heart still beating like a humming bird, he wiped his brow with his hand and sank to the floor, trying to calm himself and catch his breath.  He looked around at his surroundings.  There were huge rocks all around him and a straw floor.  Above him he could see the early evening sky.  “This must be the Tiger’s den,”  he realized.  As his heartbeat slowed, he raised himself up from the floor and began to walk deeper into the interior of the burrow.  Mr. Popper had come here with a plan.  It had seemed reasonable, all be it, a long shot, when he had come up with it back at the Savage village.  Now it seemed like a fool’s mission.  He had one chance, and one chance only.  With every step he took, the one chance seemed to fade from his grasp.

     He turned a corner to see two huge tigers standing outside an opening to, what looked to be a grand room.  He quickly ducked back around the corner before the tigers saw him.  “This must be the home of their leader.”  Mr. Popper reasoned.  He picked up a large rock and threw it down the corridor.  The two tigers heard the sound and took off to see what it was.  Mr. Popper hurried around the corner and into the room.  As soon as he was inside, he saw a large round table.  Sitting around the table were beings from every corner of Middleland, and creatures from places he could only imagine.  There were bears, wizards, magicians, and lizards.  There were gargoyles, minotaurs, priests, and things he had no words for.  Things, almost beyond description.  And there, on a throne of wormy chestnut and laurel, was the master of the race of Tigers.  He was huge.  He had paws bigger than Mr. Popper’s head.  His eyes were vibrant yellow, and his fur was magnificent.  Orange like the most beautiful summer sunset, and black like the most divine secret.  The majestic creature slowly turned it’s head and gazed straight into Mr. Popper’s eyes.  Every creature in the room turned to look at Mr. Popper.  The imposing Tiger stepped down from the throne and let out the most blood curdling roar, bared his teeth , and set off at a dead run straight at Mr. Popper.  He leaped into the air and with both paws landed on top of Mr. Popper, who fell to the ground under such an enormous weight.

     He had his paws on Mr. Popper’s arms and was sitting on top of him.  He opened his huge mouth.  Mr. Popper could see his massive, bone white teeth.  Out came his enormous tongue and he began to lick Mr. Popper’s face.

     “I thought you would never find us!” said the tiger, “I had almost given up hope.  I pray the other tigers didn’t interfere, but I couldn’t alert them until I knew you were really going to make it.  There are just too many things that could go wrong with our plan if too many other’s found out.  It is so good to see you again, my old friend.”  he said as he licked Mr. Popper’s face with his large sandpaper tongue.

     “Lao Hu, my dear friend!  You are a sight for sore eyes.  I was beginning to think I’d be eaten by one of your citizens, before I could find you.  The Music Water has provided   the way for us to meet again after all these years,”  exclaimed Mr.Popper.

     “Let me let you up and you can take your place at the table.  I will explain our relationship to the others and our plan.”  Lao Hu said as he helped Mr. Popper up from the floor and showed him to his place at the table.

    “You all know me, Lao Hu, chief of the Tigers.  This is my good friend Mr. Popper of the tribe of Savages.  We were raised together when we were quite young.  Mr. Popper’s father found me in the woods when I was very small.  My mother was shot by hunters and I hid in the brush until they were gone.  Mr. Popper’s father, who became my father, raised me until I was old enough to go back to my own tribe.  Mr. Popper was just a child like myself at the time, and so we grew up together for many years.  We are like brothers.  No, we are brothers.”  he said as he smiled at Mr. Popper.  “We hatched this plan, by sending messengers through the thin spots without letting anyone else know.  We kept our communication secret, so as not to let the council find out.  Now, to explain our plan to you all, I shall call on Nahtan Rubbertoe, Mr. Popper’s son-in law.  He was instrumental in devising this strategy.”  he said as he sat on his throne and waved to Nahtan.

     Nahtan rose from his seat.  He was a young handsome man, with dark eyes and short cropped hair.  His face was unshaven and he had the look of a fifties movie star.  Nahtan had always distrusted the counsel and their control of the Music Water.  After all,  why should they be the ones to decide who gets the Music Water?  He felt that the Water was mean’t for everyone, and it was up to everyone to use it as they see fit.

     “Ladies and gentlemen, tribal chiefs, sectarian heads, priests, shamans, and other distinguished guests.  I am Nahtan Rubbertoe.  I have long been among you and have made my distrust of the counsel known to all.  You know my character and have seen my commitment to the tribes and to bringing the Music Water to everyone, regardless of tribe, social or economic status, or even spiritual ability.  I have felt that the Music Water must be  placed in the hands of the people, and so do many of you and your tribes, or you wouldn’t be here.  I have devised a plan to make this happen, but it will be dangerous.  It may cost some lives and will most certainly label all of us, in the eyes of the counsel, as traitors.  We will become outlaws and, as such, will have to work underground.  But if this is what freedom requires, then I say, ‘Let it be so’!  If any of you  feel differently, now is the time to leave.  You will not be held responsible for anything that is shared here today.”  With that he paused and looked around the room.  Everyone remained seated in agreement.  He took a deep breath and continued.  “I have worked on this plan with my father Che Rubbertoe, and with Polly, Mr. Popper, and Lao Hu.  The idea is to put the vile of Music Water in a place where it can assimilate into the earth and seep into the very channels of living water beneath the ground, thereby affecting the whole of this planet’s water system with the Music.  I realize this is only a temporary solution, being that even this vile of Water will not last forever, but at this time it seems to be the most expedient thing to do.  This place we have found, is far away.  Many people feel it is just a myth, but we must try, or die doing so.  There is a tree on the island called Varguss in the land of the Adnaca.  This tree is the oldest living thing in our world.  Some have called it the tree of life.  No one here has seen it or the land of the Adnaca.  I know, this has been a story handed down from generation to generation and many think it nothing more than a fairy tale, but now is the time to prove it’s existence.”  

     “Let’s suppose this place does exist.  How will you find it, and having found it, how will you get the Music Water into the channels under this great tree?”  interjected a strange looking creature sitting at the table, who represented a tribe that Nahtan had never seen.

     “We have a general idea of the location of the island.  It is in the Western Ocean beyond the plains and the great mountains.  When the chosen party gets there, they will have to find the old man known as Cliffrat.  He is the keeper of the tree.  Somehow we will have to convince him to take us to it.  This will not be easy.  As for getting the Water into the underground channels, we will have to find a man named Percy Toeringer.  He lives in the land of vineyards and rolling hills, in the area of the Toe lakes.  These are five lakes in the shape of five toes.  Percy lives on the smallest one, called “Honeoye” by the natives.  The name seems to mean rotten sneakers, or stink foot.  At this point we don’t know why.  Percy Toeringer runs a farm that raises deforestation frogs.  These are frogs that have been biologically breed to clearcut whole forests.  They are used by the local population to clear house sites and roadways.  They are foul, evil creatures with razor sharp teeth and metallic claws.  We will need one frog.  We will let it go at the base of the tree of life.  It should chew it’s way all the way to the bottom of the great tree’s root system.  Then we will pour in the vile of Music Water which will seep into underground channels, and feed all the wells of all the earth, distributing the Water to everyone on the planet and immediately healing the tree of life.

     We already have our team, which will consist of Polly and Mr. Popper, Keona, Thea, Una, and Bon Bon, and one more.  Lao Hu has graciously chosen to go along.  I will meet you all in the land of the Adnaca in a place yet to be chosen.”  Nahtan said in closing.

     “This sounds like a good plan,”  said Mr. Popper,   “I only have one problem with it.  Where are Polly and the girls?”  he asked with a worried look. 

     “I will send some scouts out to find them and bring them back safely.”  said Lao Hu,  “I will call for my staff to make you comfortable for the night.  You, Nahtan, Polly, and the girls, and even Little Tee, will be my guests tonight at supper.  I will have your horses fitted with whatever supplies you might require.  We will discuss our plan and map a course for the Toe Lakes, and when you are rested, you can be on your way.  I adjourn this meeting.”  he stated, addressing those sitting at the table.  “We will have time for questions in the morning, but for now, please make yourselves at home.  My help will show you to your rooms.”

     Everyone got up from the table and headed out the door.  Mr. Popper was happy for the help of his old friend, but wouldn’t rest easy until he saw Polly and the girls again.

Chapter 13

     Just chapter 13 and a nice illustration from Cliff.  Life has been too busy for anything else.  I hope you enjoy it.  

Chapter Thirteen

The Tigers

     It was early, but Mr. Popper knew that if they expected to make their way to the Tigers’ camp they would have a long day ahead of them.  He had gotten up while the others still slept, and fixed himself a cup of tea.  He had used no more than a pin drop of the Music Water in his cup.  Just enough to be able to see, in his minds eye, what must be done to find this most precious, stolen, unadulterated, eternal water.  He sipped his tea and pulled the dreameradoo from his imagination.  He began to play his overwhelming need.  His empty longing.  His lonely aching soul.  His uncompromising desire for the undiluted Water Music and what it would bring to his people.  As he played, he was on a beach.  The sky was stormy and the sea was rough.  The air was thick and humid, and he could taste the salt water on his lips.  He could smell the scents of the ocean on the breeze.  He could feel the endless depth.  The dark mysteries, beyond what mere vision could see.   As he played this melodic desperation, he began to ask for direction.  He needed  guidance by the Water itself, to find the Water, and then to know what should be done with it.  This was not necessarily a conscious thought, but rather a manifestation of his longing heart.

     As he played, the ocean began to spiral up like a waterspout.  Like a tornado at sea.  At first it was quite small, almost unnoticeable, but it began to grow as the wind picked up, until it was massive.  The sky grew black and the clouds began to pop with lightening.  The dark blue, almost black, spinning fountain shot a current from it’s left side and it’s right.  These channels began to look like giant arms.  Small streams flowed down from the very top and became, what looked like long flowing hair.  Not the beautiful hair of a young woman, but the hair of a wild man.  Mr. Popper began to smile, and then to laugh.  He laughed so hard he had tears running down his cheeks.  This was the Water Music, and he was not afraid.  This was what he longed for.  To see the face of the divine.  To be swept into the incarnate enigma, and be totally lost forever.  The form had it’s back to him, but began to slowly turn his way.  He could now see a glimpse of a profile.  A dark green beard.  Long and unkept that burned like fire, but yet was pure water.  He began to see a great light, like an exploding star that was still behind the figure, but what he thought, must be the eyes.  He knew if he looked into those eyes he would be utterly consumed, but this is what he lived for.  To be enfolded into the mystery, like salt into water, which can be tasted, but never seen again.  Then Mr. Popper’s song faded and he began to hear the music of the universe.  He could hear the voice that sang the cosmos into existence.  He could hear the colors of ocean and fire.  He could hear the taste of salt water and sweet rain.  He could hear the horrible smell of burning destruction and the exultant delivery of new birth.  The song grew fuller and louder, and he felt as if he was being swept away by it; becoming part of the very melody itself.  The figure was still turning toward Mr. Popper as he looked on.  The brightness was almost blinding.  The storm was of hurricane strength, and the music was reaching toward an epic crescendo.

     In the back of his mind, Mr. Popper began to hear a faint knocking.  As the knocking grew louder, the music lessened and the storm began to calm.  The waterspout stopped turning and soon vanished back into the sea.  Mr. Popper came to himself and was sitting in a chair next to the window as the first rays of sunlight began to shine.  There was a knocking at the door.  Mr. Popper got up and went to see who it was.

     “I got them horses and yun-ses stuff fer the trip.”  said a handsome young man.  Muscular, with a beard and mustache and close cropped hair, which was balding on top.  He had dark features and dark skin from being in the outdoors, with a youthful smile that looked as if he might be up to some sort of prank.  

     “You must be little Tee.”  asked Mr. Popper, as he held out his hand in friendship.   

     “Yes sir, I am.”  he said shaking Mr. Popper’s hand.  “We best be getten on.  I’ll meet yuns at the end of town in thirty minutes.”  he said as he turned and closed the door.

     Mr. Popper was still dazed from his vision of the Water Music, but rallied and got the girls and Polly up and they headed for the end of town.

     As they approached the end of town, they could see the horses and Donkeyhotie loaded with provisions for the trip.  Little Tee was there along with T. Roice Settlehymer and Big Dee himself.  

     “I wanted ta give ya the escape door myself and to give ya a word a caution about it.”  Big Dee started,  “You can use the door whenever ya want, but there’s no tellin where ya’ll end up.  So, don’t use it unless ya have ta.”

     “Thanks for the word of advice.  I’ll keep it safe and only use it in an emergency.”  Mr. Popper replied.

     “One other thang I wanted ta ask ya.”  Big Dee continued,  “Me an T. Roice was up most a the night a talkin, and he thinks he might want ta stay on here fer awhile.”

     “Of course you are free to do what you want, T. Roice.  I think you have served the purpose you were sent for, but why would you want to stay here?”

     “Well, Big Dee and I have been talking about a way that he, as a luck sucker, can give back to the other tribes around us.  And by doing so, get rid of his bad karma, so he won’t have to worry so much.  I gave him several ideas that we want to pursue.  I’ll stay on here for several months, and then go back home to my family.”

     “That sounds like a great idea.  I’m glad to see this reconciliation and change of heart, but I will miss having you with us, now that you are T. Roice again.”

     “Yes, I shall miss you also, but now that Mr. Struggles is no more, and I have this new found freedom, I need to make the most of it.  Have a safe journey, and I’ll see you when the Music Water has been safely returned.”

     “I will see you then, my friend.”

     With that last word, the journeyers mounted their horses, and followed Little Tee, as he lead the way out of town and into the woods.

     Little Tee was a man of few words.  He didn’t seem to speak unless spoken to.  He would get down off his horse now and then to look at foot prints in the grass, and orange colored fur that was stuck on trees and briar bushes.  Then he would get back on his horse and set off again, sometimes in a new direction.  They were all glad that they had him, for they would never find the Tigers without him.  They had traveled most of the day and the sun was just beginning to set as they approached a large rock formation.  It was a huge bolder that had cracked over time, and provided a path straight through the middle, which was wide enough for two horses to ride side by side.  The sides of the bolder had outcroppings where trees had grown among the rocks.

     “This looks ta be the entrance to the Tigers den.”  said Little Tee.  “There might be another way in, but I wouldn’t be to sure.  I think we should go in this way, but be very quiet.  And keep on the look out incase they got guards posted.”

     “Sounds like a plan.  You and I can ride side by side in the front, the girls in the middle, and Polly, you can bring up the rear.”  

     As they began to enter the path between the sides of the bolder, the bright light of the setting sun shone hard into their eyes and made the path in front of them hard to see.  Mr. Popper had to squint to keep the sun out of his eyes.  Little Tee reached into his saddle bag and put on a pair of sunglasses.  The sides of the bolder formed great cliffs that, from their vantage point made it seem as though they went up forever.  There began to be a smell of feline urine.  

     “We must be a gettin close.”  informed Tee.  “Keep yun-ses eyes open.”

     With the sun in front of them it was hard to know for sure, but up in the distance Mr.Popper thought he saw something heading their way.  Little Tee stopped his horse.

He got down and pulled a long barreled rifle from his saddle bag.  The girls eyes got wide.

     “Theys hard to hit.  Especially when the suns in yer eyes, but I think I can take him.”

     Mr. Popper squinted hard to see.  Up ahead on the path was a huge Tiger running full speed directly at them.

     “I’ll have ta wait until he’s close to make sure I get the shot.  I anin’t got but one shot with this gun, then I got ta reload.”

     “But if you shoot him, they’ll know we’re here.”  pleaded Mr. Popper, who hated guns, and didn’t approve of killing anything.

     “It’s either us or him.  With his claws and teeth, and as strong as he is, we’d be no match for him.”

     Now they could all see the Tiger.  He was magnificent.  He looked like an orange and black streak running toward them.  His muscles rippling under his fur.  Tee laid his rifle across his arm and took aim.  Mr. Popper got off his horse.

     “There must be another way.  We can’t shoot such a beautiful creature.”  cried Polly.

     “He may be beautiful, but them teeth are made fer one thang.  That’s to eat us, bones and all.”  Tee said.  “He’s almost close enough.  I’ll have ta wait until I can see his eyes.”

     Mr. Popper was now standing next to Tee with the girls and Polly behind him.  The Tiger was now dangerously close and Mr. Popper could just see the whites of his eyes.  He watched Tee as he began to squeeze the trigger.  At the last moment Mr. Popper Knocked the rifle from Little Tee’s arms as he pulled the trigger and shot high.  

     “Are you crazy!”  Tee yelled  “I had him!”

     Mr. Popper now began running straight at the giant tiger who was also running straight at him.  The Tiger leaped into the air.  At the same time Mr.Popper pulled something black from his pocket and held it over his head.  It was the escape door.  The Tiger hit the escape door and Mr. Popper, and in the blink of an eye, they were both gone.

     

     

Chapter 12

  Here is chapter 12.  In order to meet everyone's time frame, I will only be publishing a chapter every two weeks.  Martha and Cliff are taking turns with the illustrations.  This week Martha has created the drawings.

Chapter Twelve

The Gamble

     Mr. Popper had come in the front door just in time to hear Big Dee’s proposal to Polly.  At that very moment he understood why the Shaman had requested Mr. Struggles to be part of the group.  Of course!  It made so much sense!  Why hadn’t he been able to see it.

    “Who are ya?  And what da ya want?”  inquired Big Dee, to the stranger.

     “My name is Mr. Popper and this is my wife Polly.”  he said calmly and matter-of-factly.  “I heard your proposal and I think I have a counter proposal that would interest you.”

     “I done said what I want and I aint a changin my mind.”

     “Big Dee, I’ve heard you are a man who likes a game of chance.  I’ve heard that you can be very lucky.  I’ve also heard that you like to play cards.  So, my offer is simple.  Double or nothing.”

     A smile crept over Big Dee’s face as he contemplated the ins and outs of this situation.  “Well now.  That sounds right interestin.  Spell out the terms of yur proposition and what the game might be.”  he said with his best poker face.

     “Traditional poker.  We will play three hands.  The best two out of three wins.  The stakes will be this:  if we lose, Polly will stay here for the next fourteen years and she will do all your worrying.”  

     A gasp came from Polly, but she knew Mr. Popper must have a plan.  She also knew he wasn’t a gambler.

     “If you lose,”  continued Mr. Popper, “You will let us go immediately and send your son with us as our guide.”

     “I didn’t take ya fer a man that takes big risks, but I like ya, and I think this might be some fun.  So, I’m a gonna say yes to this here game.”  he said, with the sly look of someone who already knew the outcome.  “I’ll get Lou to fetch some cards and we’ll have us a game!”

     Big Dee excused himself and left the room to tell Lucinda that he needed a deck of cards. The doors closed behind him and he whispered to Lucinda.  “Go over ta Bradley’s general store and get me some cards.  I’m fixin ta take them Savages fer everthin they got.”

     “But surely they’ve heared that you are the chief of all the luck suckers.  I thought everone knowed that.”  She said with a look of unbelief.

     “I guess they’s still a few out there that aint, but he’s about ta find out.”  Big Dee chuckled.

     After some time Big Dee came into the room followed by Lucinda, who had the cards, two men carrying a small table, and what appeared to be the whole town behind them.  Lucinda had told old man Bradley about the game, when she had gone for the cards.  He had told the customers in the store, and soon word had spread through out the whole town.  Every one had come to see the game and watch Big Dee do what he does so well.

     “ I hope ya don’t mind that these folks have come by ta watch this here friendly little game?”  he said, with a wink to the crowd.

     “No, I think it will make it more festive.”  replied Mr.Popper

     “Well then, Lucinda can deal if that’t alright with you?”

     “That should be just fine.”

     “I’ll sit here and you can sit there, and we’ll get this game a started.”

     “Oh, I’m sorry, if I gave you the impression that I was going to be the one to play you.”  Mr. Popper apologized.  “Mr. Struggles is our card player, not me.”

     Polly and the girls looked at each other like Mr. Popper had lost his mind.  Bon Bon put her tail between her legs and put her head down, and Mr. Struggles had gone white as Christmas snow.

     “It don’t much matter which a yuns wants ta play. Just have a seat and Lou can deal em.”

     “I should like to have a quick word in private with Mr. Struggles before you start, if that would be alright?”  Mr. Popper asked looking calmly at Mr. Struggles.

     “Sure, I aint in no hurry.”

     As Big Dee took his seat and the crowd gathered round.  Mr. Popper took Mr. Struggles to the side, while Lucinda began shuffling the cards.

     Mr. Struggles had begun to sweat and there was an obvious look of fear in his eyes.

     “I can’t play poker! You know better than anyone what happens when I try to help, let alone try to win a game that requires luck!”  he franticly whispered.

     “Don’t worry.  Just look directly into Big Dee’s eyes.  Don’t turn your gaze and everything will be alright.”  Mr. Popper whispered.

     “But, I thought we weren’t supposed to look in their...”

     “How about takin yer seat, so’s we can begin.”  interrupted Big Dee.

     Mr. Struggles looked scared as he approached the table and sat down.

     “These are the rules.”  Lucinda stated,  “I’ll deal out five cards, you-uns ill have one draw, best hand wins.  Best two out of three will be the winner.”

     With that she began to deal the cards.  Mr. Struggles looked up to see Big Dee staring straight at him.  Big Dee’s gaze was fixed on him in a way that made Mr. Struggles feel uneasy.  “I’ll do what Mr. Popper said, regardless of what happens to me.”  thought Mr. Struggles as he peered deep into the eyes of his opponent.

     The cards were dealt.  Big Dee said, “I’ll take two.”  as he discarded, with a look of satisfaction on his face.

    “Mr. Struggles?” Lucinda asked, “would ya like some cards, or what.”

     Mr. Struggles had yet to pick up his cards.  His eyes were transfixed on Big Dee’s.  “No I’ll keep these.”  he answered, as if hypnotized.

     “This is gonna be easier than I thought.”  laughed Big Dee.  “He aint a gona even look ta see what he’s got.”  he said in amazement.

     “Alright then.  Let’s see them hands.”  Lucinda commanded. 

     Big Dee turned his over first to show a full house King’s high.  Everyone applauded and talked among themselves.  Mr. Struggles had still not picked up his cards.  He was consumed by looking into Big Dee’s eyes.  He felt his very life was leaving him.  He felt he was being sucked dry as he stared into those blood shot eyes.  If he had even a small amount of luck, surely it was all but gone now, he thought.

     “Please Mr. Struggles, show us yer hand.”  said Lucinda, breaking his concentration and reminding him where he was and what he was doing.

     “Sorry.”  he said as he turned over his cards, without ever having looked at them. The crowd gasped as he showed his hand; a full house aces high!  Big Dee turned his gaze from

Mr. Struggles to the cards in astonishment.

     “The winner of the first hand is Mr. Struggles.”  announced Lucinda.

     The girl’s looked at Polly and squealed with excitement as Bon Bon waged her tail.  “Polly, something weird is happening to Mr. Struggles, he doesn’t look the same.”  whispered Keona.

     Sure enough, Mr. Struggle’s countenance had changed.  He began to look younger.  His hair had begun to get darker, and he appeared to be getting taller.

     “Second hand.”  shouted Lucinda, as she dealt the five cards.

     Again, Mr. Struggles did not pick up his cards.  He was lost in the eyes of Big Dee.  He felt his very soul was being sucked from his body, leaving just an empty shell.

     “I’ll stay.”  said Big Dee, with a smile as he stared at Mr. Struggles.

     “Would ya like some cards, there Mr. Struggles.”  said Lucinda, trying to get his attention, as the crowd grew quiet in disbelief.

     “No thank you.”  responded Mr. Struggles with out blinking an eye.

     “Let’s see them cards then.”  said Lucinda.

     Big Dee laid down three aces and smiled, never taking his eyes off Mr. Struggles.  Mr. Struggles flipped over his cards without ever looking at them.  Three sixes.

     “The second hand goes to Big Dee!”  exclaimed Lucinda, while the crowd cheered.

     “I got ya now son.”  whispered Big Dee to Mr. Struggles.  “How about we sweeten the pot, Mr. Popper?”  

     “What do you have in mind?”  replied Mr. Popper.

     “How about I send ya, not only with my son, but a month’s provisions, Horses for all of you ta ride, and my escape door. I recon it’s the only one knowd ta man.”  The crowd convulsed in shock when they heard this.

     Mr. Popper had heard of the escape door.  It was said that it looked like a black piece of cloth, but where ever you laid it, a hole would appear that you could pass through.  “And what would I have to offer?”  he asked.

     “You and the girls stay on fer fourteen years with Miss Polly.”  The girls and Polly looked shocked, but not as shocked as when Mr. Popper replied, “Done.”

     “Good then.  We got us a real game now, son.”  laughed Big Dee.  “Deal them cards Lou.”

     Lucinda dealt the last hand.  Mr. Struggles still had not picked up his hand.  The crowd began to whisper among themselves about the changes in Mr. Struggles.  “He looks right familiar.”  said one man.  “He must be a foot taller than when he sat down.”  said another.  “He looks years younger, and I’m sure I’ve seen him before.”  said someone else.

     “I’ll take one.”  said Big Dee, who had been staring into his eyes so intently, that he hadn’t noticed the changes in his opponent.

     “And you Mr. Struggles?”  asked Lucinda.

     Mr. Struggles was lost inside the eyes of Big Dee.  He knew he didn’t have much left.  Every ounce of who he was, was slowly being sucked from his being, and yet he began to feel something he hadn’t in a long time.  He began to feel like someone he had forgotten he was.  He began to feel blessed instead of cursed.  “No cards.”  he said, without picking up his hand.  The crowd marveled.  Never had they seen a game where one of the players never looked at his hand.

     “Let’s see em boys.”  said Lou.

  The crowd went crazy as Big Dee laid down a straight flush Jack high.  He looked at Mr. Popper and smiled,  “Looks like I’m going to be seeing a lot of you and them girls.”  he said as he let out a big gut wrenching guffaw.

     Quietly, as if it was the last thing he’d ever do, Mr. Struggles turned over his cards one by one.  The first was a ten of diamonds. The second was a Jack of diamonds.  The third was a Queen of diamonds.  Now the crowd had begun to quiet down and look on with interest.  The fourth was a King of diamonds.  With that Big Dee quit his laughing and gloating and stared at the last card, which was still upside down on the table.  Slowly Mr. Struggles reached down and took the card.  As he did the last of who he had been for years, left him and he knew who he was.  With a new found confidence, he laid down the last card.  The crowd roared with amazement as he revealed an Ace of diamonds!

     “The winner is Mr. Struggles, with a royal flush.”  yelled Lucinda over the shouts of the crowd.  

     Big Dee was still staring at the card when Mr. Struggles announced in a loud voice, “The winner is not Mr. Struggles, but T Roice Settlehymer!”

     “I knew I recognized him.”  said one man.  “Of course, I see him now.”  said another.

     Big Dee looked up from the table to see his old employee.  “Could it be!  Was it possible!”  he thought.  “Yet there he was.”  

     “How can this be!”  exclaimed Big Dee.

     Mr. Popper stood up to address the crowd.  As he did everyone quieted down.  “It can be, because you made it possible.”  explained Mr. Popper, looking at Big Dee.  “After T Roice left your employment,  he was emptied of all his luck.  He had been sucked dry by you and your son.  Then in a moment of weakness, he did a foolish thing and tried to take an old man’s magic cane.  The old man happened to be a wizard and put a curse on him, which gave him only bad luck.  So, you see he went from no luck to bad luck.  The wizard said he could only break the curse by becoming totally empty.  With out a way to do that, he wandered for years, forgot who he was and changed in his physical appearance, until no one else knew who he was.  But now, thanks to you, he has had all the bad luck sucked from his soul and he is once again, my good friend, T Roice Settlehymer!”  With that the crowd went wild.  Mr. Popper embraced T. Roice as Big Dee looked on with his mouth open.

     “I should expect our supplies, horses and your son to meet us at the edge of town at first sunlight tomorrow.  And don’t forget the escape door.”  Mr.Popper said as he led Polly, the girls, Bon Bon, and his old friend T. Roice out into the fresh evening air.

     

     

     

    

     

Chapter Eleven

    Nothing new on the guitar front, except I got my new hand saws, so hopefully sometime next week I can begin the neck on the classical.  I've been playing a lot of music and working a lot.  Last night I played a gig at the library with Michael Collings.  We played all original tunes.  I got to play some things I've never had a chance to play.  It was great fun.  Here is the Chapter for this week.  I delayed it a few days, so Cliff could get the illustration finished.

Chapter Eleven

Out of the Dark Woods

     Having escaped from Dream World, Polly was anxious to get back on the trail and find Mr. Popper.  She and the girls headed back into the Dark Woods on the trail set before them.  After hiking for several hours due North, the trail came to an end.

     “It looks as though the rhododendrons  have all but taken over the trail.”  Polly said, with a defeated tone.  “I don’t know anything else to do, but go back to the river and try to find another trail that bypasses this.”

     “But, that will take days, and we must be getting close to the Dilleyard village.”  argued Keona.

     “I agree, but this thicket could be miles around, and if we try to make are way around it without a trail we could become hopelessly lost.”  she warned.

     “There must be a way.  Surely we haven’t walked all this way for nothing.”  Keona said, contemplating the worst.

     As they spoke something had begun to happen to Thea.  Polly and Keona were thinking so hard about how to fix the situation, that they hadn’t noticed Thea becoming quite serious.  She began to change colors from her usual rosy complexion to a dull gray.  Her feet went from little girl feet into what began to look like tree stumps with toenails.  A wispy, broom like tail began to appear on her bum, and she began to grow.  Not just a little, but she was getting huge.  Polly looked over just in time to see her serious face begin to change.  Her hair started to thin and become rough like pampas grass and then her nose began to grow... and grow... and grow.  It was a trunk!  She had become the largest African elephant they had ever seen!

    “Look out Keona!”  shouted Polly, as she picked up Una.  “Be careful she doesn’t step on you!”

     Keona ran for cover just as Thea stepped into the thicket, shattering rhododendrons and pine trees as if they were twigs.  She took her trunk and swung it back and forth knocking branches left and right. Then she stood up on her hind legs.

     “What is she doing Polly!”  Keona yelled, through the sound of cracking branches, as the earth shook from her enormous steps.

     Thea, now a gigantic elephant, came down on her front legs with a thundering trumpet, that rattled the Dark Woods.  As she did, fire shot from the end of her trunk.  The fire was so hot and bright that Polly and her sisters had to look away.  It felt as if a blast furnace was near them.  When Polly looked up all she could see was smoke.  It filled the woods and stung their eyes.  Trees and bushes were blackened and smoldering.  Small fires were scattered about.  As the air began to clear and the smoke dissipated, they could see, before them, a sort of tunnel cut straight through the rhododendrons, and Thea had turned back into a little girl.

     “Thea, you did it!’  Polly shouted.  “You made a way through the thicket for us!”  she yelled, as she picked up Thea and hugged her.  Thea just smiled, not saying a word.

     They headed on through the tunnel in the trees and soon picked up the trail on the other side.  After many more hours of hiking, they came out of the woods and stood before a small quant little village.  They had made it to the village of the Dillieyards.

     “We must inquire of their leader, Big Dee.”  said Polly.  “Perhaps he has seen Mr. Popper and the others.  Once we’ve located them we can ask the Dilleyards assistance on our journey.  Keona, go into that little store and ask where we can find Big Dee.  I’ll wait here with your sister, and give Donkeyhotie some water.”  Polly instructed.  “And don’t forget, to be on the safe side, don’t look directly into anyone’s eyes; just incase the luck sucker myth happens to be true.”

     Keona went into the store, which appeared to be a sort of general store.  It had everything from candy and groceries, to hardware and clothing.  But it also had something she had only seen pictures of... guns!  The Savages and the Nautical Noots, as well as most of the tribes she had ever known, had no use for guns.  They didn’t hunt, because they saw the animals as their brothers and sisters.  They didn’t war, because they believed that love was the only cure for hatred.  She found herself being fascinated by the shinny barrels and the sleek smooth textures, and the smell of fresh machine oil.

     “What can I do fer ya, young lady?”  asked the man behind the counter.  He was older, with a scruffy beard and a baseball cap, with the brim curved so sharply on both sides that it almost came together and made a sort of cone.  He appeared to have a wad of something between his bottom teeth and his lower lip.  “Ya don’t look to be from round these parts.” he added, as he spit some awful looking brown juice into a can on the floor, missing the can and mostly hitting the floor.

     “My name is Keona.  I am from the tribe of the Savages, and we are looking for Big Dee.  Could you direct me to where he might be found?”  she asked the odd man.

     “Well, we don’t get too many a them Savages round here.”  he said with a smile.  “Specially them lil uns.  I’zle die-rect yuns ta the fi-ancy place where Big Dee does his bidness.”  he said walking toward the door, Keona not really sure what he had said, but hoping he would help.  “If ya look o-vare, you’ll be a seein his place.”  he said pointing to the biggest building in town.  “Yuns go in the front and ask Lucinda if yawl can see him.  She’ll take care of ya.”

     “Thank you sir.”  Keona politely replied.

     “You’re quite welcome little lady.  Come back.”  he added, not really wanting her to come back.

     Keona lead the way as they all headed to the building where they hoped to speak with Big Dee.  They tied Donkeyhotie to a hitching post outside, and headed in with the Little Debbie cakes they had brought as an offering.  Inside they saw a woman behind a desk.  Thea thought she was lovely in a maternal sort of way.  Her hair was piled high on her head and her face was painted with the most welcoming colors.

     “Well look at them darlin young-uns.  I bet thems mean as snakes.”  she said, smiling at the girls.  The girls shyly returned her smile, not sure what she mean’t by the snake remark.  “My name’s Lucinda.  What can I do fer ya today.”  she said looking at Polly.

     “We have come along way, and would like to inquire as to whether anyone has seen two men and a dog recently.  They would be strangers in these parts.”  Polly replied.

     “I aint seen no strangers in town, but if ya tell me where yuns might be a stayin, I’ll let ya know if I hear somethin.”  Lucinda said.

     “Thanks so much, but we don’t know where we’ll be staying, or for how long.  We need to ask a special favor of Big Dee.  It is very urgent.  Could we possibly have a meeting with him?

     “You sure can sweetie.  Just go in through them big doors.  If he’s a sleepin, just open one a them Debbies and he’ll wake right up.”

     “Thanks so much for your help.”  Polly said as they made their way through the doors.  Once inside the air grew dank.  It smelled of old fast food wrappers and cigarette  smoke.  It was quiet and dark and all they could hear was loud snoring coming from the front of the room.  As they got closer they saw a most rotund man sitting in a great green leather chair.  He had on a ball cap like the man in the general store, with the bill curled in the same way.  His fingernails were thick and yellow and smoke billowed from his nose as he snored, slumped in his chair.  Polly and the girls walked right up to his great throne and Polly opened a Little Debbie cinnamon bun.  As she tore the wrapper Big Dee began to stir.  He sniffed the air without opening his eyes. He smiled, waking, and then began to have the most horrendous coughing spell.  Smoke blew from his mouth and curled from his nose and ears as he continued to hack.

     When he was finished his eyes had teared up.  He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said,  “Well now, yuns caught me a nappin.  What can I do fer ya mam, and fer them lil-uns?  I bet thems as mean as snakes.”  he added, laughing and then began to cough and hack again; the girls still not sure about the snake thing.

     When the smoke had cleared, Polly began with the offering.  “We are Savages, from the tribe South of here and we have brought you a gift of these cakes.”

     “Well that was right nice of ya.  If I could get one a them lil -uns to go in the back room, o-vare,”  he said as he pointed to the back of the room, and get me a Dew to wash it down with, it would be much appreciated.”

     Polly instructed Keona to go in the back room and see if she could find a soft drink and bring it back.  She brought the drink and the Debbie cake, and gave it to Big Dee.  He took a large bite from the cake and chewed it with his front teeth, like a rabbit.  Then he took a long drink from the soda bottle, set it down and began to cough and hack.

    “Well, that was mighty thoughtful of you-ns to bring me them Debbies.  And that Dew washes em down so good.  So, what is it I can do fer ya.”

    Polly began, “I am looking for my husband, Mr.Popper, who is with a wide bodied black dog, and another man.  We are trying to find the den of the Tigers.”

     “Whoa, there little lady!  I ain’t seen no body with no black dog, but findin that Tiger den is sumpen you aughten not be a doin.  Theys some dangerous critters.”

     “We will find them with or without your help.  It would just be so much easier if you could help us.”

     “You don’t know what you’re askin.  Them Tigers is a fierce bunch.  We been a-huntin them fer years.”

     “That’s why I need your help.  You know how to track them.  You know all about them.”

       “Well that’s right, but we can’t take no lady and a bunch of kids to do somethin so dangerous.”

     “We are quite capable of taking care of ourselves.  We all have our own special talents.”

     “I’m sure ya do, but we’re talkin bout some mean critters.  Somethin you aint never seed, besides what do ya want with the Tigers anyway?”  he asked, sounding a bit annoyed.

     “The counsel has sent us.  They believe the Tigers have stolen the Music Water and we have come to retrieve it.”  Polly said with an air of authority.

     “So, that’s why I aint heared no banjos in a while.  Cleatus aint been able ta get nothin out of his squeeze box, and Britney Nicole caint get no sound out of her tamborine.  Church aint been the same without it.”  he said with a look of fond remembrance.  “But I caint spare the time to ponder all this.  I’ve got too much ta worry about, what with all the Dilleyards ta look after and all.  So I’d like ta help ya, but y-uns will just have ta find them Tigers on yer own.”  he said as he opened another Little Debbie.

     “Now that’s where I can help you.”  Polly exclaimed.  “You see I’m a professional worrier.  If you’ll let me I can worry for you and give you a break.  You’ll be free to rest and think of any thing you like.  You won’t have a care in this world.”

     Now the look on Big Dee’s face was one of skeptical interest.  Like watching a magician do his craft.  “Well I don’t know.  What would I have ta do?”

    “ You don’t have to do anything, but give me permission to take your worries for awhile.”  Polly explained.  “You’ll love it, and what have you got to lose?”

     Big Dee stared at Polly, like she was crazy.  He frowned and took of his cap to scratch his head.  After pondering the situation he finally said, “So all I have ta do is say I give ya my permission?”

     “That’s all.”  Polly said firmly.

     “All right then.  I give ya my permission.”

     With that Polly closed her eyes.  Her forehead wrinkled up and her eyebrows moved close together.  She was totally quiet.  You could see the utter concentration on her face.  She began to look older, and more tired than the girls had ever seen her.  Her curly hair began to move.  It was slowly growing.  I say slowly, but for hair it was growing quite fast, because you could watch it.

     The look on Big Dees face went from skepticism, to shock, to what can only be described as bliss.  The wrinkles around his eyes seemed to disappear and his yellow complexion became rosy.  His eyes became clear and focused and a smile began to appear on his mouth.  It started off small and shocked, and ended with the look of a man in love.

     After about thirty minutes Polly opened her eyes, and looked at Big Dee.  He had fallen asleep, but not like before.  This was the sleep of sweet peace.  Polly’s youthful look began to return, but her hair had become big.  It was sticking up on top, and long on the sides, and curled so tight, that Thea thought it looked like it must hurt.

     “Oh bother,”  said Polly, “I’ll have to cut my hair again.  Una, would you please wake Big Dee and lets see how he feels.”  she said with a smile.

     Una walked over to Big Dee’s chair and whispered in his ear, “It’s time to wake up Mr. Big Dee.”

     With a long drawn out yawn and some serious stretching, Big Dee opened his eyes.  His countenance had changed.  He looked like a new man.  “Well, I aint slept that good fer years.  Not since I was a boy.”  he said, almost in disbelief.  “You have got some kind a special powers there Miss Polly.  I should like ta keep ya on here for awhile ta help with my worryin.”

     “I should love to help, but our business is much too urgent.  When we have completed our mission, I would be glad to come back and give you several worry sessions on the house.”

     “Well that aint helpin me now.  I need the rest right now.  I tell ya what I’ll do.  If ya stay here for seven years and do all my worryin, I’ll send my boy, Tee, and he’ll take ya to them Tigers.  That’s the only way I’m a gonna help y-uns.”  he said, with his mind made up.

     Polly looked shocked.  Seven years?  The world without the Music Water for seven years?  What could she do?  What should she do?  How she wished for Mr. Popper.  He would know what to do.

     Behind them, she could hear the sound of the doors opening and footsteps coming toward them from behind, but she was too stunned by Big Dee’s request to look.

     “I have a proposition to make to you.”  a man’s voice exclaimed.  “I think it would be well within your interest to hear me out.”

     Polly turned to see Mr. Struggles, Bon Bon, and the voice she knew so well, Mr. Popper.

     

Chapter Ten

     It has been a crazy week.  I worked six days and have been trying to keep up with an online music theory class.  I'm having to order some tools to proceed with the guitar I'm building, so it may be a few weeks before there's any action on that front.  But here is chapter 10 of the story for those who are keeping up.  It is a step back in time to explain how people travel from one place to another in Middleland.  Cliff was too busy to do illustrations, but sent me this email, that I think explains the idea of thin spots quite well.  You'll understand this more after you read the chapter.  Here is Cliffs letter, "Is the thin spot the place where memory and emotion travel in a non-linear fashion? The electromagnetic energy is the love. So the love could dispel the light energy if it was strong enough. It would create a thin spot in time because of the pureness of love. Love moves one to higher dimensional levels. Time is relative to the speed of light. The speed of light increases at each dimensional level. Love is faster than light. That is why science can measure protons but not electrons. Protons are the light electrons are the love and neutrons are the awareness. ….who needs a large hadron collider when we got Mr. Popper and Mr. Struggles?

Chapter Ten

Thin Spots

     “Mom, when we step into the Thin Spot, will we see Polly and Mr. Popper right away, or does it take time to get there?”  Keona asked her mother.

     “You’ll see some bright, beautiful lights.  Then everything will spin, up and down, left and right, and side to side.  The air will feel thick like water, and you’ll see the other travelers going to their own particular destinations.  It will take, maybe ten minutes, after that.  It’s like riding on a fast moving stream of air.”  she said.  “Oh, Polly and Mr. Popper will be so glad to see all of you.”  she said as she looked down at Una and Thea.

     Every summer, for as long as she could remember, she had wanted to go and stay with Polly and Mr. Popper.  This time she was getting her wish.  Not only was she going to see them, but she was going to take her sisters with her, and best of all, she was going to spend the whole summer with them in the village of the Savages!

     “I’m so excited to go.  I can’t wait to see grandma and grandpa.”  Keona said.

     “You’ll have so much fun.  Polly and Mr. Popper are always off on some kind of adventure.  It will be a summer to remember.”  Skyla Barns Nautical Noot said excitedly.

     Skyla Barns, was the mother of the girls.  She was of the tribe of the Nautical Noots.  They were a tribe that lived by the sea.  They lived off of what the sea could provide.  They were great fishermen.  They were hard workers and also loved to farm the earth.

     Skyla Barns was a young lovely women.  Tall and slender, but muscular from the hard work she did in the village.  Her shoulder length brown hair, complemented her eyes, like the moon complements the night sky.  But her smile was the thing that would captivate you.  She had a smile that was welcoming, and at the same time mischievous.  As if perhaps, she knew a secret that, if you tried hard enough, she might just tell you.  She was a master of Reflexprophecy.  If you were unsure of where your life was headed, you could make an appointment with her.  She would come to your house with her special lounge chair, that she would unfold, and have you recline in.  She would then massage different places on your feet.  This would cause you to see things that might be.  I say might be, because once you would see these things that might be, you could change them, by changing your behavior.  For instance, if you loved to eat candy and drink soft drinks, and you saw that by the time you were thirty all your teeth would be gone, you could stop drinking soft drinks, and cut down on candy, and you would change your destiny.  She also loved to work with the earth.  She made waterfalls and caves, and courtyards with talking cobblestone.  She once made a flower garden that was nothing but dirt in the morning, but by evening was a veritable jungle.  Then the next morning would be gone and grow anew each day, always different.

     “I don’t think it’s much further to the Thin Spot, girls.  I know we’ve traveled for a long time, but it will be worth it.”  Jessewheatzer said.

     Jessewheatzer was the son of Polly and Mr. Popper, and the father of the girls.  He had met Skyla Barns, when he had left home in search of the things that young men go in search of, and then meet young women.  After which, they can’t remember what they were searching for.  He had fallen in love with her instantly and they married.  He stayed on with the Nautical Noot tribe and raised the girls there.  He became an Au Courant Aggregator; a fancy title for someone who collects the present.  People would hire him mainly for weddings and special events, but some would hire him just to document their lives.  An Au Courant Aggregator, of which there are few, and Jessewheatzer is one of the best, capture pieces of the present and store them in books.  If, say, you hired him to capture your wedding, he would take a moment of the bride’s wedding dress, and maybe, a moment of her hair shining in the morning sunlight.  Maybe take a moment of the scent of the bridal bouquet and the warm wet feel of the first kiss.  And maybe take a moment of hearing the bridal procession and the laughter of the guests at the reception.  If the two were preoccupied enough, he sometimes could capture a moment of pure love.   Later he would put these in a book.  When the book was opened, whoever opened it would relive these moments as if for the first time.  They would feel the kiss.  They would laugh with the friends.  They would wear the wedding dress, and they would love and be loved.  It was a special gift and an awesome responsibility  to be an Au Courant Aggregator.

     He was tall and ruggedly handsome, with a muscular physique that was wrought by hard work.  His eyes were blue like Polly’s, with the same depth of vision.  His hair had tamed down from when he was a child. At that time it looked like a dandelion ready to blow away in the wind.  Now it laid down, mostly, except when there was an electrical storm brewing, and then it would stand up as if so alarmed it wanted to fly away.  The Nautical Noots would always know when a storm was coming, simply by looking at Jessewheatzer’s hair.

     “Are we almost there Dad.”  said Thea.  Hours earlier she had seen the clearing in the tree line on top of the mountain that they were now on.  She had thought it was a clearing, but it was actually a hole in the sky.  This was a Thin Place.  There were several of them throughout the world.  They were hard to spot.  From a distance they looked like clearings when they were on a mountain top.  In the woods, or on water they were much harder to see.  A hole in the dimension of space and time does not look like a hole in the ground, or a doorway.  It really doesn’t look at all.  It just is.  The shamans of old had found this one on Mt. Washington.  There happened to be another one just outside the Savage’s village, and so, this would be the portal for the girls to see Polly and Mr. Popper.  The shamans had used these thin places to travel to the City of God, where they would inquire of Him for their tribesmen.  People like you and I began to use theses places as a portal to our loved ones.  

     “I see the clearing up ahead.  It should be here somewhere.”  Jessewheatzer replied.

     As they got closer there was a most unusual place directly in front of them.  They could see through it, yet things behind it were slightly bent, or skewed.  If you weren’t looking hard enough for it, you would walk on by and never know it was there.

     “Is that it!”  shouted Una.

     “I think it is.”  Skyla Barns replied.  “It’s time for you all to enter the thin place.  We will be in touch with you when we can and we will be here on the first day of September to bring you home.”  she said with a tear in her eye.

     “Remember, when you enter the thin place hold hands.  Keona will be in charge, because she is the oldest.”  Jessewheatzer reminded them.  “Keona, remember that you will need to think about Polly and Mr. Popper with all your might, in order to get to the right place.”  he warned.

     When you entered the portal, it would take you to wherever your heart’s desire lie.  If you traveled in a group you would hold hands and choose a person to lead.  That person would have to concentrate on their heart’s desire and that is where you would end up.  Keona knew this would be a breeze, because she had wanted to spend the summer with Polly and Mr. Popper for so long.

     “Give us hugs and kisses, and off you go.”  said Skyla Barns, choking back her tears.

     The girls all gave hugs and kisses to their parents, and then walked toward the thin place holding hands.  Keona first, then Una, followed by Thea.  Jesseswheatzer and Skyla Barns watched as the girls walked closer to the portal and then suddenly disappeared.

     Inside it was so bright that they had to squint to see.  There was a swirl of colors in every direction that made them all dizzy.  They couldn’t tell if they were right side up, or upside down.  They didn’t know if they were standing on the ground or the sky.  Una started to feel sick, and then it stopped.  It was calm and they could feel the movement beneath their feet, even though they were simply standing still.  It felt like they were floating in a gentle river.  The air was thick like water, but comfortable.

     “Look at the people!”  Una said.

     All around them were people of all races and tribes.  Strange looking people with odd clothes carrying bags and baskets.  Some with families, and some by themselves.  Some with dogs or cats, and some even with elephants and ostriches.  Everyone standing completely still yet moving by in every direction on all sides.

     And then with no warning, and nothing but a familiar feeling, they were there.  Keona could feel the hot humid summer air on her skin.  She smelled the familiar fragrance of honeysuckle and lilacs, and then there she was.

     “Polly!”  Keona yelled, letting go of her sister’s hand, as she ran and jumped on her grandma.  

     “You’re here!”  shouted Polly as she picked up Una and hugged Thea and Keona all at the same time.

     “What about me.  Don’t I get any hugs?”  said Mr. Popper, pretending to look sad.

     With that, all the girls jumped on him and they hugged each other and laughed.

     “That seems like so long ago.”  Keona thought.  “Who would have thought that only two weeks ago we came to see Polly and Mr. Popper.  That was before the Music Water was stolen; before we volunteered to help; before we crossed the Great Tuffaluktee and got separated from Mr. Popper, and before we met Pesadilla and escaped from Dream World.”  she pondered silently to herself, as she sat with her sisters on the edge of the pool, while Polly hunted through Donkeyhotie’s saddle bags for something for them to eat.  “Mom said, Polly and Mr. Popper were always off on some kind of adventure, but I never thought it would be like this.  I can’t think of a better way to spend my summer.”  she thought with a smile of contentment on her face.